VS-31

rdf:langString VS-31

rdf:langString Sea Control Squadron 31

rdf:langString "Topcats"

rdf:langString VS-31 Insignia

rdf:langString Aircraft flown

rdf:langString Former homeport

rdf:langString "Topcats"

rdf:langString Sea Control Squadron 31

rdf:langString Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31) Topcats was a United States Navy anti-submarine warfare squadron. During WWII there was a scouting squadron which carried the designation VS-31. It was established as Scouting Squadron 31 in 1942, based at Naval Air Station Squantum, Massachusetts. It flew the dive bombers Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, then the Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldiver in the North Atlantic until disestablished at the end of the war in 1945. The squadron which is the subject of this article was established as Composite Squadron VC-31 on 28 September 1948 at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, was re-designated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 31 (VS-31) on 20 April 1950 and moved to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Originally flying the Grumman TBF Avenger, these were later replaced by the Grumman AF Guardian and the Grumman S-2 Tracker in 1954, and finally by the Lockheed S-3 Viking. In 1973, VS-31 was relocated to NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and eventually to NAS Jacksonville. On 1 October 1993 the VS designation was changed from "Air Anti-Submarine Squadron" to "Sea Control Squadron and VS-31 (along with all existing VS squadrons at the time) was renamed Sea Control Squadron VS-31. It was finally deactivated at NAS Jacksonville effective 31 March 2008, with a deactivation ceremony which took place on 27 March.